Charles Mashburn

Name:
Mashburn, Charles Chance

Date of Booking:
07/02/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident

Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident

Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane

Following Too Closely

Reckless Driving

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 7/2/2025, at 1936 hours, I responded “code three” to the intersection of Atlanta Highway NW and Carl-Cedar Hill Road in reference to an accident with injuries involving multiple vehicles.

First Observations:

A Nissan Altima was traveling west on Atlanta Hwy NW, at the intersection of Carl-Cedar Hill Road. A Toyota Corolla was in front of the Altima, traveling west on Atlanta Hwy NW, west of the intersection of Carl-Cedar Hill Road. A Kia Sedona was traveling west on Atlanta Hwy NW, approaching the intersection of Carl-Cedar Hill Road. The Sedona rear ended the Altima as it was entering the intersection. The Sedona then went into the other lane of traffic, overcorrected, then struck the left rear quarter panel of the Corolla. The Sedona then continued west on Atlanta Hwy, fleeing the scene of the accident. The Sedona came to a rest approximately ½ of a mile from the accident scene after it became disabled. I followed the fluids leaking from the Sedona on Atlanta Hwy as it went back and forth between all lanes of travel until I located it disabled in the roadway. I observed a male standing outside of the vehicle looking at the heavy damage to the front of the vehicle.

Initial contact with driver:

I approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Charles Mashburn, and began speaking with him. As I was asking Charles how the accident had occurred, he stated he had not been in an accident and that he had just blown a tire. I asked him how all the noy damage to his vehicle had occurred and he was confused about the body damage and stated it was from the tire. I observed that Charles appeared confused and was rambling on. I observed that his face appeared droopy and his pupils were constricted. His movements were slow and deliberate. He could not stay on the conversation point and just continued to say that he didn’t hit anything.

I asked Charles to participate in voluntary field sobriety exercises, and he agreed. I asked Charles if he was wearing contacts and he stated no. I asked him if he was taking any medication and he stated he did, but he did not know the name of it. He stated that he did not have any medical conditions that would prohibit him from completing the exercises.

Field Sobriety Exercises:

This evaluation was performed on Atlanta Highway. The evaluation surface was a flat and smooth paved blacktop area with no defected areas noted or claimed. The lighting conditions consisted of sunlight. There was no rain or substantial wind noted, and the ambient air temperature was approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Horizonal Gaze Nystagmus (explained and observed):

I told Charles to stand with his feet together and his hands at his sides. I asked Charles to look forward and to not move his head. I told Charles to follow my stimulus with his eyes only. I asked Charles if he understood, and he stated that he did. Charles’s eyes displayed equal tracking and equal pupil size. I then checked for lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and an angle of onset of nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees in both eyes.

I observed no clues.

Lack Of Convergence (explained and observed):

I told Charles to stay in that position and told him that I was going to circle his face with my stimulus, I told Charles to follow the stimulus with both eyes. I told him that I would bring it towards his nose, and he was to follow it with both eyes. I told Charles that if he needed to cross his eyes that was okay. I asked Charles if he understood, and he stated that he did.

I checked for lack of convergence and did not observed it.

Romberg Balance Test (explained and observed):

I told Charles to stay in that position with his feet together and his hands at his sides. I told Charles to stay in that position while I explained what he needed to do. I explained to Charles that when instructed he was to lean his head back and close his eyes. Once I told him to begin, he was to tell me when he thought 30 seconds had passed. I told Charles that when he thought 30 seconds had passed, he was to open his eyes and say stop. I asked Charles if he understood, and he stated that he did. I instructed Charles to lean his head back and close his eyes and to begin.

Charles estimated 30 seconds in 28 actual seconds. I observed eyelid tremors along with body swaying of approximately 3 inches. I observed full body tremors along with Piloerection on both arms.

Walk And Turn (explained and demonstrated):

I showed Charles a straight line and instructed him to place his left foot on it. I then told Charles to place his right foot in front of it, heel-to-toe. I instructed Charles keep his hands at his sides and demonstrated it. I told Charles to stand in that position while I demonstrated the nine step walk and turn evaluation and not to begin until told to do so. I asked if he understood, and he stated that he did.

I demonstrated to Charles how he was to take nine heel-to-toe steps remaining on the line. I explained that on the ninth step he was to keep his front foot on the line and turn around with a series of small steps with the rear foot. I explained that he was then to return taking nine heel-to-toe steps. I explained that he was to look at his feet, count his steps aloud and keep his hands at his sides. I explained that once he began, he was not to stop until finished. I asked Charles if he understood, and he stated that he did.

Charles displayed the following 3 clues:

Instruction phase

1. Could not keep balance during instructions.

Walking Phase

2. Missed “heel to toe” steps by more than one-half inch on the following steps:

• second 9 steps: steps 1,8,9

2. Completed an improper turn.

One Leg Stand (explained and demonstrated):

I told Charles to stand with his feet together and his hands at his sides and he complied. I told Charles that I was going to demonstrate the one leg stand evaluation. I told Charles not to begin until told to do so. I asked if he understood, and he stated that he did.

I demonstrated how he was to lift a foot of his choice approximately six inches off the ground with his toes pointed out. I explained that he was to keep both legs straight and keep his hands at his sides. I told Charles he was to look at the raised foot and count aloud in the following manner, 1001, 1002, 1003, etc. until told to stop. I asked Charles if he understood, and he stated that he did. Charles raised his left leg and displayed the following 2 clues:

Counting and balancing phase

1. Put foot down.
2. Swayed.

Vital Sign Observations:

A digital pulse oximeter registered Charles’s pulse to be 112 beats per minute.

Portable Breath Test (PBT):

The portable breath test instrument registered negative for the presence of alcohol on Charles’s breath with a reading of 0.000 BAC.

Arrest:

Based on my observations, the traffic violations, the general demeanor of Charles, and the totality of the circumstances, I believe Charles was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs less safe. It was explained to Charles that he was under arrest for driving under the influence.

I immediately read him the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects over the age of 21. Charles refused to submit to a chemical test of his blood under the Georgia Implied Consent Law.

Charles was placed into handcuffs behind his back, they were checked for proper fit and then double locked in safety. He was searched incident to arrest, checking for contraband with negative results. Charles was then secured in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle.

I then transported Charles to the Barrow County Detention Center where he was turned over to the Booking Deputies without incident. Prior to the beginning of my shift, prior to and after transport, a search of the rear seat of my patrol car was completed.

During the search, no contraband was located.

Citations:

Citation number E028164 under OCGA 40-6-391 DUI-drugs
Citation number E028165 under OCGA 40-6-390 reckless driving Citation number E028166 under OCGA 40-6-49 following too closely Citation number E028167 under OCGA 40-6-48 failure to maintain lane
Citation number E028168 under OCGA 40-6-270 hit & run
Citation number E028169 under OCGA 40-6-270 hit & run

Witnesses:

3 written witness statement forms were completed. The written witness statement forms were turned over to the Barrow County Criminal Investigation Division.

[End of Narrative]